Still doing evolutionary algorithms with Perl

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development and integration of Algorithm::Evolutionary in Perl, highlighting its applications, usage, and potential for combining evolutionary algorithms with server-based systems.

Contribution

It introduces the evolution of Algorithm::Evolutionary, its integration with POE, and demonstrates how to implement evolutionary algorithms in Perl for various applications.

Findings

A::E has been extensively used since 2002.

Integration with POE enables combining EAs with servers.

The paper explains how to implement EAs in Perl.

Abstract

Algorithm::Evolutionary (A::E from now on) was introduced in 2002, after a talk in YAPC::EU in Munich. 7 years later, A::E is in its 0.67 version (past its "number of the beast" 0.666), and has been used extensively, to the point of being the foundation of much of the (computer) science being done by our research group (and, admittedly, not many others). All is not done, however; now A::E is being integrated with POE so that evolutionary algorithms (EAs) can be combined with all kinds of servers and used in client, servers, and anything in between. In this companion to the talk I will explain what evolutionary algorithms are, what they are being used for, how to do them with Perl (using these or other fine modules found in CPAN) and what evolutionary algorithms can do for Perl at large.